Become a PAL Partner at the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden this summer and discover the excitement of joining our education team.
PAL Partners work one half-day shift per week for 12 weeks beginning June 12 and one half-day weekend
shift or one Tuesday evening shift per month for June, July and August. (Exceptions will be made for
family vacations.) To be eligible applicants must be 14 years old or entering 9th to 12th grade in the fall.
Those accepted will be required to purchase a PAL Partner T-Shirt ($7), and attend an orientation/training.
PAL Partners carry out a variety of responsibilities.
• Assist PALs (Play and Activity Leaders) with Discovery Carts and other engaging activities—monitoring toy
boats in the Great Lakes Garden, creating clay sculptures with real artists’ tools, using rhythm instruments
made from natural materials, matching animal tracks to pelts and many others.
• Gather materials for and monitor special presentations by artists, musicians, scientists,
and story-time presenters.
• Provide “crowd control” for summer camps visiting in the Children’s Garden.
• Straighten and maintain the Rock Quarry, Tree House Village, Beaver Lodge, Log Cabin and
Story-Telling Hut and assorted materials.
• Work with Children’s Garden staff to provide fun and memorable experiences for families.
Application process:
• Fill out an application by downloading it from our web site at meijergardens.org/involved/volunteer
or by calling 616-974-5236 to have one mailed to you. Make sure we receive your application by May 17.
• Include three letters of recommendation (teacher, previous volunteer or work experience, personal).
• Include a paragraph written by you explaining why you want to be a PAL Partner.
• After we receive your complete application, you will be contacted for an interview.
Interviews will take place on May 24 (after school). Acceptance letters will be mailed by early June.
Work in all ten themed areas of the Children’s Garden, gain valuable experience,
make new friends, fulfill school requirements, add to your resume and have fun.
Become a PAL Partner!
PAL Partners
have said:
• “Guests love when you walk them over to places and genuinely care to get their questions answered correctly.”
• “Being a PAL Partner is just FUN! It just is.”
• “You can play and work at the same time.”
• “I just love being here. Everyone is so happy and wants to be here each time I volunteer.”
• “It’s so cool in the Children’s Garden. The guests look for you to help.”
• “I made new friends and learned how to talk to people.”
• “Being a PAL Partner prepared me for a job. I know how to give people my attention and focus on their needs.”